Blue White Roundtable :: Michigan

Michigan. Big House. 1996. Need we say more?

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Blue White Roundtable - Week 8, Michigan Wolverines

The Penn State offensive line looked awful against a very good Iowa defense. They looked pretty good over the last three games, against the Big Ten's two worst defenses and a I-AA scrimmage. This week they face a decent, but not great, Michigan defense. Is the O-line up to the challenge and can they block Brandon Graham?

Brandon Graham can cause problems, but the rest of the Michigan defensive front hasn't exactly teed off on opposing quarterbacks. The Wolverines enter this game with 10 -- TEN -- total sacks for the season. Penn State has 21. If you need any more reason to feel better about the Michigan defense, it made Ricki Stanzi look like a Heisman candidate. They take chances no other sane defense would take with such talent-less defensive backs. Sure, Donovan Warren is excellent, but he's just one of four in the secondary. The safeties are terrible, and one of them is usually walked down into run defense. If Penn State can avoid the Michigan rush for more than 1.5 seconds, Clark will have a field day against single man coverage.

Eric Decker was (for the most part) not a factor in the minnesota game. Was this due to the weather, his being "over rated" or has PSU's secondary, primarily AJ Wallace, benefited from the extra practice and challenges from the coaches?

Eric Decker is NOT overrated. I will say that two of his drops were catchable balls, even if poorly thrown. However, this secondary has actually been challenged by Tom Bradley this season. Sure, late in games they're walked off the line and give up easy underneath passes in that terrible cover-3 prevent when Penn State is leading big. But I really like what the defensive backs are doing so far. I think they're more physical, and as was already alluded to, have been actually challenged with some man (gasp!) coverage assignments.

Tate Forcier captured the eyes of America with some phenomenal late play in some of Michigan's earlier games, with his last-second touchdown drive against Notre Dame drawing enormous praise to the true freshman. However, he found himself riding the bench in the fourth quarter last week against Iowa, and Penn State has been strong against the pass all year. How will the Penn State defense fair at containing Forcier, who is a true dual-threat quarterback?

Forcier won't be the problem for Penn State. I truly believe that will be Brandon Minor pounding away for five yards a carry. But to break down how Penn State will defend Forcier, it all comes down to the pass rush. Forcier made a few good plays against Iowa, but not nearly enough to win the game, or even stay in. Now, I heard he had a slight concussion, for what that's worth. But Penn State's pass rush is every bit as good as Iowa's. Penn State just has to get in a few good shots on Forcier, and he'll coil up enough to make some big mistakes.

Lightning Round

Penn State's streak of not allowing a first half TD comes to end this weekend, True or False?

False.

Who's a better performer in FatBoy Slim's Weapon of Choice video? Christopher Walken or Tate Forcier?

Walken.

Does Penn State win this Saturday in Ann Arbor for the first time since '96?

Yup.

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